The Kentucky Horse Council announced the November Kentucky Equine Networking Association (KENA) dinner and discussion topic will address equine nutrition. Titled “What’s REALLY in Your Horse’s Feed?” the event will be held on Tuesday, November 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Spy Coast Farm’s Equine Education Center in Lexington. KENA is a dinner and educational series geared toward equine professionals, horse owners and riders, and other equine enthusiasts. The night will include networking, dinner and a lecture by University of Kentucky Animal Science professor and researcher Dr. Laurie Lawrence.

Deciphering equine feed tags and supplement labels can feel like an exercise in futility if you don’t have a master’s degree in equine nutrition. Though it can be overwhelming, it’s important to ensure what you’re feeding provides the horses in your care with the nutrients they need to thrive – and to make sure you’re not wasting precious money on powders, pellets and potions that may not be necessary. Dr. Lawrence will talk KENA attendees through what information they can (and can’t) find on feed and supplement tags; she’ll also offer explanations of nutrition terminology and answer questions about feeding horses in various life stages.

“Most owners understand that proper nutrition is the foundation of a healthy horse,” says Dr. Fernanda Camargo, associate professor and equine extension specialist in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences and co-chair of the KENA committee. “But they sometimes need help determining things like how much energy their horse actually expends and how to match the type of concentrate to each individual horse. Feed tags and supplement labels don’t always tell the whole story, and the KHC is excited to have Dr. Lawrence teach attendees how to analyze these tags and offer tips on what they should look for when purchasing feed.”

KENA provides an educational and social venue for equine professionals and horse enthusiasts from all breeds and disciplines. Organized by the Kentucky Horse Council, KENA provides the opportunity for attendees to share ideas, business strategies and knowledge; and to obtain up-to-date information on horse and farm management, as well as on issues affecting the equine industry. KENA is made possible by the generous support of Dinsmore Equine Law Group, WesBanco, Neogen, University of Louisville College of Business Equine Industry Program, KESMARC Kentucky and Equine Land Conservation Resource.

For details and reservations, visit https://kentuckyhorse.org/KENA . Tickets are $30.